Door tray



July 9, 1940.

R, B. HOLLY DOOR TRAY Filed April 5, 1939 I mm R. H0115 7 fi- A WWW I Mw AIM? M Ma 9 L l 9 .1 w w ,0 m M 1 4M kl t Z L mul L flu M PatentedJuly 9, 1940 "j'UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,207,667; noon ma i RobertB. Holly, Colorado Springs, Colo. 1 Application April 5, 1939, SerialNo. 266,215 2 2 Claims.

panel thereo'f'for swingably supporting the tray for movement from ahorizontal position to substantially a vertical position against theinner side of the door.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter becomemore fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, whichillustrates a preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the tray in aclosed position on the inner side of a vehicle door,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the tray in an openposition, and

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 44 ofFigure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein like referencecharacters designate like or corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views, l designates generally a portion of a vehicle doorwhich includes the inner panel I l and the outer panel 12. The door I0is of the conventional type used in automobiles and is shown merely toillustrate the application of the invention, designated generally I3,which will hereinafter be described.

The invention It constitutes a utility tray and includes a tray,designated generally. l4, and formed of a bottom l5 having an upsetmarginal flange l6, which is preferably flared outwardly, as best seenin Figure 4, and rolledat its free edge to form the bead or rim l'l.-'

A pair of arms or brackets, designated generally 18, have correspondingenlarged ends l9 which are 50 secured to the upper side of the'bottoml5, adjacent one of the edges, and curved intermediate portions 20 whichproject upwardly'and outwardly from the tray I4. The free ends of thearms l8 are turned downwardly at 2| and then outwardly to form the lugs22. Arms I8 are adapted to be (c1. s r-22) connected to the door ill bymeans of the members 23 each of which includes a U-shaped element 24disposed between the panels II and I2 and having its ends projectingthrough the inner panel I I and connected to a base plate 25 disposed onthe outer side thereof. The panel H is provided with the correspondingvertically disposed slots 26, arranged above the members 23, and throughwhich project the intermediate portions 20 of the arms I8. The lugs 22extend through portions 24 and are adapted to be rotatably mountedtherein for pivotally mounting the arms it relatively thereto to providefor movement of the tray l4 through an arc of substantially 90, from. aclosed position, against the outer side of the panel I I, as seen inFigure 2, to an open horizontal position projecting inwardly from thedoor It), as seen in Figure 3. v

A bar 21 is secured to the inner side of the flange l6 and to thatportion thereof most remotely disposed to the arms l8. The exposed faceof the bar 21 is provided with an arcuately shaped transversely disposedrecess or groove 28 forming a stationary keeper which is adapted toengage the spring clip 29 when the tray I4 is in a closed position, asseen in Figure 2, for releasably maintaining it in this position. Thespring clip 29 is secured to the outer side of the inner panel I I at 36and projects outwardly therefrom and is provided, adjacent its free end,with an arcuately shaped upwardly projecting portion 3| which is adaptedto resiliently engage the groove 28 for frictionally supporting the trayl4 in substantially a vertical position. Bottom I5 is struck-out to forma finger grip 32 which projects outwardly from the underside of the tray[4 and which is disposed adjacent to the bar 21 or along the free sideof the tray M.

The utility tray l 3 is so constructed that it may be readily applied toautomobile doors already in use or made a part of new doors and it isdeill signed for use by the passengers particularly as a tray forholding food and drinks when eating in an automobile and is especiallydesigned as an accommodation to passenger customers of curb servicerestaurants. When not in use, the tray portion I4 is swung upwardly to avertical position, as seen in Figure 2, and frictionally latched by theelement 29 against the inner side ofthe door II! and thus heldconveniently out of the way of the passengers. To position the trayportion M for use, it is only necessary to grasp the struckout portion32 and pull outwardly thereon to release the stationary keep-er 21 fromthe latch element 29 to thereby allow the tray to swing downwardly to ahorizontal position, as seen in Figures 3 and 4, where it will beretained by the portions 2| of arms [8 engaging the inner side of thepanel I, as best seen in Figure 3. The tray portion I4 may obviously beused as a support for other articles than food and beverages, and whenin a closed position, may be used as a pocket for the storage ofarticles with the panel ll forming a back wall.

While the tray attachment I3, comprising the invention has beenillustrated and described as an attachment for vehicle doors, it is tobe under stood that the tray I3 is also intended and adapted to beattached in any other part of a vehicle where suflicient space isavailable; such as on the back of the front seat and on the side panelsof two door sedans.

The size, shape and depth of the tray portion Hi may obviously be variedand other modifications and changes in the construction and arrangementof the parts forming the invention are contemplated and may be resortedto and the right is reserved to make such variations and changes as donot depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafterdefined by the appended claims. I

I claim as my invention:

'1. A utility tray for vehicle doors comprising a tray having an upsetmarginal flange, arms secured to the bottom of the tray and projectingupwardly therefrom, said arms having curved intermediate portionsextending outwardly of said tray and terminating in end portionsdisposed substantially at right angles to the adjacent ends of thearcuately shaped portions, said angular ends being pivotally connectedto the inner side of the inner panel of a vehicle door, the panel beingprovided with slots to receive said arms, and said angular ends beingdisposed for abutting engagement with the panel, when the tray is in anopen position, to support it at substantially a right angle to thepanel. I

2. A utility tray for vehicle doors comprising a, tray having an upsetmarginal flange, and a hinge bracket having an arcuately shaped endextending into the tray and secured to the bottom thereof, said hingebracket having a substantially straight opposite end, disposedsubstantially at a right angle to the adjacent portion of the arouatelyshaped end, the free end of said last mentioned portion being pivotallymounted on the inner side'of a panel of an upright door, said panelhaving a slot through which the hinge bracket extends for supporting thetray on the' ROBERT E. HOLLY.

